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Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Big school or small school? Confused,

21 replies

Pinkjenny · 22/10/2010 16:23

I am agonising over the first and second choice.

Choice 1
Small school
Inspected in 2007 Grade 2
We know it - my cousin has just left
Lots of clubs that dd would really enjoy
Very strict, a bit oldschool really
Maths seems to be a challenging area for them

Choice 2
Big school - 2 x reception classes
All dd's friends from nursery are going there
Inspected in 2008 Grade 1
Quite a casual, informal approach
No personal knowledge of the school

I have nooooooo idea what to do. I got a nice feeling from both of them.

How do I decide??????????

OP posts:

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Hullygully · 22/10/2010 16:25

Does dd do best with formal or casual approach?

Pinkjenny · 22/10/2010 16:27

She is a very (I mean, she's only 3, but...) outgoing, gregarious, friendly (sometimes overfriendly) child. I worry that a very formal approach would stamp her openness out of her. But then, I am really just making assumptions.

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Hullygully · 22/10/2010 16:28

I'd go for Choice 2, then. Also, in small schools, especially as they get older, the small pool of possible friends can be a big problem.

Pinkjenny · 22/10/2010 16:31

Hullygully - that's the problem we've already got in her current private nursery, ludicrous considering their age but...

They are so cliquey, and we get a lot of 'x isn't my best friend anymore' type comments.

Excellent point, hullygully.

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Runoutofideas · 22/10/2010 17:42

I would lean towards choice 2. To me, a two class entry school is still quite small. (DD1 has 90 in her year.) Your dd will have familiar faces from nursery when she starts, which can make a big difference to the settling in process. I don't think school has to be too formal and old-fashioned for such young children, but it depends what you prefer. Which is nearer to you - can you walk to both?

Pinkjenny · 22/10/2010 20:47

Runoutofideas - we can't actually walk to either. Both will be tricky in terms of parking etc, so that's not really a factor at this stage.

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dikkertjedap · 22/10/2010 20:49

I would go for choice 2. Much more scope to make friends and meet a variety of people, so better for communication skills. DD first went to a small school which was not great she is now at a very big school (much bigger than the number 2 in your message) and she is thriving. More children to play with, different teachers, more activities, she loves it. I always thought that a small school would be the best you could have and I have totally changed my mind having seen the changes in dd.

androbbob · 22/10/2010 21:46

Our choice was easy as DS will be going to the same school as DD!

Round here there is alot of choice of schools - I can name 10 schools all within 10 minute drive of our house.

If walking to school is not an option (not for us as we work so needed a school with breakfast and after-school club) then you habe more choice. You do need to think who will be doing the school run and at what time and if you have other younger kiddies to take elsewhere, then you cound be spending half an hour ferrying them around before getting to work yourself.

Also, does the school have breakfast club / afterschool club - lots do but would your DD get a space? At our school breakfast club is ok but spaces in afterschool are like gold dust - they have 24 spaces and a long waiting list - so I have to leave at 3 to pick them up at half three.

I personally think a larger school is better - if your child is out-going and friendly then she will have a wide circle of friends. A small school here has a problem with bullying which the school are struggling to cope with so much that plenty of parents are removing their kids.

You really do need to try to speak to local parents to hear views on schools, but everything is not the same for all. We would not have chosen DD's school as it is the furthest away from our house and I pass 4 schools to get there (!) but she is very happy there and is doing well. DS has started in nursery there and loves it also. It is an old school as in the building, but the staff are excellent and really seem to work together for the children. The head has been in post 3 years and is young and ambitious but has changed things for the good.

Ultimately only you and your OH can make the choice but you do get a feel for a place once you have visited them. I wouldl not take too much from the Ofsted reports unless the school is in special measures and failing badly.

I would place more store in how happy the pupils are - do they seem to enjoy school, are they polite, are they well presented and is there lots of evidence of activities - wall displays, etc.

Good luck!

androbbob · 22/10/2010 21:47

Opps - that was a bit of an essay!

Pinkjenny · 23/10/2010 09:34

Friendly bump for any more views/experiences

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Clary · 23/10/2010 14:08

two reception classes is not especially big FWIW.

In fact in our LEA it's the preferred model for any new school.

How small is small? I have concerns about friendship groups and sem anecdotal evidence of problems there (not for my DC). However I have no presonal exp of a small school.

My DC go to inf and junior schools which are biggish (up to 80 in a year).

Most important IMO is which school is local/walkable/gone to by people in immediate area? Also what are the kids like when you visit, what is the HT like? These are far more important things than Ofsted reports from 3 yrs ago.

If you can't walk to either, is there a school that you can walk to? If so I would certainly consider that too. Esp as it may be the one you get in to.

fsmail · 23/10/2010 14:24

Choice 2 for me as her friends will be going there and small schools not necessarily better.

iloverainbows · 23/10/2010 14:47

I would also look at facilities. Bigger schools have more funding as they have more pupils, they also have a bigger parent pool for fundraising.

Often small schools have mixed year groups which is a big no no for me.

Personally I prefer larger schools but of course it is actually about what suits your child the best.

Pinkjenny · 23/10/2010 14:48

There are schools that she can walk to, but she isn't going to any of them as we intend to move, our house is currently on the market. Having said that, the area we hope to move to is only 10 mins away.

The kids at Choice 1 appear very polite, respectful, you can tell the school is quite strict. Head is lovely, but I would imagine will be retiring pretty soon. Deputy Head is young and fantastic (according to my cousin).

Choice 2 was a bit more chaotic, less stiff, not so orderly, iykwim. Head was very warm and friendly, but I could tell he doesn't rule with such an iron fist.

I preferred the HT at Choice 1.

I'm struggling because obviously we have personal experience of Choice 1, but I don't want that to make my decision for me, particularly as the majority of her friends are going to Choice 2.

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Pinkjenny · 23/10/2010 14:50

Small school has about 180 children. Big school has double that. No mixed year groups.

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Clary · 23/10/2010 15:10

Oh 180 pupils not really that small, 30 ie one class to a year.

Well small/big is a red herring in that case IMO.

When you say you are moving, where will you be in relation to schools then? Will you be able to walk? Sorry to harp on but IME it's really a nice and useful thing to be close to school.

Also it helps if you are near as you may actually get a place. Are you applying this autumn? Will you have moved? How far away are schools atm?

Pinkjenny · 23/10/2010 15:21

In terms of proximity to school, choice 1 and choice 2 both feed into areas we would consider buying in, but really we're at the mercy of the housing market now.

Schools are probably 3 miles away. I'm sure we'll get a place in 1 or 2, as confident as I can be anyway.

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dikkertjedap · 23/10/2010 15:25

Have you asked your dd what she would like? I think it is nice to be at a school with her friends but if not, she will learn how to deal with it and make new friends, although settling in might be a little longer especially if the school is very strict. From what you say I think you prefer (1) so I would follow your instincts.

bigTillyMint · 23/10/2010 15:28

What secondary schools would she be able to go to from each of the primaries? The time will pass very quickly!

Pinkjenny · 23/10/2010 15:44

Secondary school (as long as we've moved!!) will be the same no matter which primary she goes to.

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androbbob · 23/10/2010 21:43

Agree - 180 is not a small school really - I thought you were talking about a village school.

Anyway just a thought - will you be moving out of the LEA area as that can affect which school you get in as if you dont move before they offer the places it will be based on the address you live in now, and if they go on walking distance to school, you will be at the back of the list.

The booklet you get with your forms gives an idea of the number of children accepted in each school against the priority - so if a school had 40 places, then 10 of them went to siblings, and the rest went to the next 30 people who lived closest to the school. It should give you a good idea of the likelihood of getting in. Perhaps speak to the HT as well as they usually have a good idea of the numbers for eache year. I know our forms had to be in by 31st Oct, so needs a prompt decision, but I guess it is different in other areas.

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